A recent network meta-analysis published in the journal
Nutrients systematically compared the effectiveness of seven common nutritional supplements for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The analysis included 39 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 4,599 patients. Researchers evaluated the impact of eggshell membrane, vitamin D, Boswellia, curcumin, ginger, krill oil, and collagen against a placebo for improving pain, stiffness, and function. The results showed that compared to a placebo, Boswellia provided statistically significant improvements across all measures, including WOMAC pain (mean difference [MD] = -10.58), stiffness (MD = -9.47), function (MD = -14.00), and VAS pain (MD = -17.26). Bayesian analysis consistently ranked Boswellia as the most likely to be the best option for pain and stiffness relief. Other supplements also showed benefits; krill oil, curcumin, and collagen significantly improved function, while collagen, curcumin, and ginger significantly reduced VAS pain scores. Importantly, no supplement was associated with an increase in adverse events compared to the placebo. The authors conclude that certain supplements, particularly Boswellia, appear to be effective and well-tolerated for managing KOA symptoms.
Disclaimers:
• “This information is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice.”
• “The study discussed is a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials conducted on humans. Further research may be needed to confirm these findings.”
• “Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, supplement regimen, or treatment plan, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications.”
#Boswellia #Curcumin #Collagen #KrillOil #Ginger
Zhang Y, Gui Y, Adams R, Farragher J, Itsiopoulos C, Bow K, Cai M, Han J. Comparative Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2025; 17(15):2547. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152547
Knee osteoarthritis, nutritional supplements, Boswellia, curcumin, collagen, ginger, krill oil, eggshell membrane, vitamin D, network meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, WOMAC pain, WOMAC stiffness, WOMAC function, VAS pain, joint pain relief, osteoarthritis treatment, supplement efficacy, anti-inflammatory supplements, joint health, cartilage degeneration, placebo-controlled study, non-pharmacological management, SUCRA ranking, joint function improvement
This comparative analysis of seven supplements to treat knee osteoarthritis is quite profound, although not perfect, and we’ll get into that a little bit, but there some really good outcomes. For example, all seven of them showed effectiveness above and beyond that of a placebo, and many of them have other diverse benefits outside of just focusing on knee osteoarthritis. However, in the context of this particular metaanalysis, we’re going to be focused on that one outcome, the benefit in reference to knee osteoarthritis. And without further ado, let us begin. Comparative effectiveness and nutritional supplements, the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, a network metaanalysis. Let’s bring up a quick synopsis of basically how the studies was conducted. You see where you have baselon, kcumin, and collagen and so on and so forth. different number of studies, different length of time, so on and so forth. But in the end, they looked at 39 high quality studies overall which were quite promising and you can see how they did it as well too. So to proceed forward, let’s go into the backstory just a little bit. All right. In recent years, there’s been growing interest in the role of dietary nutritional interventions in knee osteoarthritis owing to their anti-inflammatory properties and potential therapeutic benefits. An increasing body of randomized control trials and system uh systematic reviews indicate that kurcum and ginger exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities effectively alleviating joint pain and stiffness. Baselic acids are derived from the resin of bosella plants bosia and have long history of use in treating inflammatory diseases. Boselia has been shown to suppress inflammatory mediators and ameliorates. Collagen and eggshell membrane contribute to collagen or should say cartilage repair and maintenance. While krill oil, which is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, is thought to improve the joint micro environment. Further, vitamin D is believed to play a role in bone health and immune regulations. So, let the contest begin. Now, keep in mind, they have benefits way beyond that of just knee osteoarthritis. We’re just looking at one particular context of that outcome. And so to proceed forward, let’s look at charts number two and three. All right, reducing pain. You see how it works there? You can see the winner, Boswellia. All right, easing stiffness. Again, they have benefits way outside of just the neosarthritis, but this is in the context of KOA. And then two, easing stiffness. You can see the clear winner there. All right. Now to proceed forward, chart number three. or I should page three, charts three and four. All right, you see Krill and Bosellia. Krill did beat it by uh you say 01, but that’s not necessarily the winner overall due to the meta analysis. So, it’s a close tie, but Boswell, you’ll see in the end, actually wins. All right, overall pain score. Now, look who moves up to second, collagen. But again, Bosellia. Now, keep in mind the researchers wanted to basically elucidate the quality of the studies in Boswellia may not have been as good or as strong as the other studies. So, take it with a grain of salt. However, though, still just the same very very promising. All right. So, here proceed forward a lot of our rights. Sorry about that. All right. While the optimal intervention varied scores out varied across different outcome measures, ver analysis revealed that Boswellia consistently ranked first in the Western Ontario McMaster University arthritis index which we’ll further call WAC pain stiffness function and the visual analog scale. Kurcumin was among the top three in improvement to warmac pain function and at VAS. While kurcumin and junior both ranked among the top three for wmarmac pain and stiffness, krill oil demonstrated excellent performance in improvement in stiffness. In addition, collagen ranked second for those VAS visual analog scales pain scores. It’s important to note that the studies supporting boswellia superiority rely heavily on weaker evidence. So again, that’s a caveat. While some studies suggest Bosella is effective in alleviating pain and improving stiff stiffness function and those VAS scores, the quality of evidence is still lacking. So further studies need to be conducted. This is promising though. Many studies are limited by small sample size, design biases, in particular heterogeneity and insufficient statistical analysis. Therefore, results should be interpreted cautiously and future research should improve randomized control trial designs and sample sizes to ensure the reliability and the validity of studies find study findings. All right, to proceed forward to graph four and five. And here is your surface under the cumulative ranking curve. A little different than the one max score, but you’ll see why in a second this important. You could see right here, boom, boom, there’s your winner. Now even though krill oil basically was number one in the wmax score under the surface under the cumulative ranking curve baselia kind of won but again the researchers indicate that the strength of the studies need to be improved upon the bosellia and there wasn’t head-to-head studies so one is not necessarily better than the other however though the boswellia effect is quite intriguing. All right to proceed forward as follows. All right. So two I wanted to show you this is the duration and the dosages of each one per se so you can get a good bearing of what it has to include and just leave that up for a second just to dwell on. And now let’s get to the conclusion. You ready? Here we go. If I can get this going. There we have it. All right. Compared to placebo, nutritional supplements may improve symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis by alleviating wack pain, stiffness, and function scores as well as the visual analog scale pain index without increasing the incidence of adverse effects. The results indicate that certain nutritional supplements, particularly boselli, kurkum, collagen, ginger, and krill, offer potential benefits in symptom relief and functional improvement. Notably, based on indirect and limited head-to-head comparisons, Boswellia exhibited the highest probability, there’s the key word there, probability of being the optimal intervention score across multiple outcome measures. Again, in reference to neosteoarthritis, the favorable safety profiles of these supplements further support the role as an important component of non-farmacological management strategies for neosteoarthritis, especially for patients who are intolerant of or have contraindications to conventional pharmacological or surgical treatments. Nevertheless, largecale highquality randomized control trials are still needed to provide more robust evidence. And with that, let’s look at the key takeaways. There’s your terminology for further further elucidation. Is that a word? Elucidate to elucidation. All right. Of course, the wmac the vast scale the metaanalysis and also to again some of the limitations head-to-head trials. Some of the follow-up periods were too short. Some were not long enough I should say which is the same as saying too short. And the conclusions as far as did not increase the adverse events events compared to placebo was quite a promising uh observation. So there we have it. A great great analysis of seven key supplements in reference to knee osteoarthritis. Although all of them have benefits way beyond the scope of just KOA, it is still quite intriguing. Again, gratitude to the researchers, wonderful metaanalysis. I am humbled you watch and look forward to see what you and I both share next week. All right, catch you all next time. See you then. Bye.
